Coast Starlight to Empire Builder connection

[AudenHoggart]

I see that Amtrak is again guaranteeing connections in PDX from the northbound Coast Starlight to the eastbound Empire Builder (without the bus bridge they'd been using.)

Looking at Amtrak Delays, I see that the connection has been missed a couple of times in the last month.

Does anyone know what Amtrak is doing in these cases? Does it use the bus bridge from Klamath Falls to Pasco that it had been using? Besides just being a bus, this means you miss out on the Columbia River Gorge.

Any experiences with this?

 

[IHC]

I've "heard" they do either of the following:

#1: Hold #28 for a few minutes to make the connection.

#2: If they're a few hours behind coming into Eugene, they will bus connecting passengers from Eugene to catch up with #28

#3: If they're so late that the bus from Eugene can't even catch up to #28, they will put pax up in hotel rooms in either Portland or Seattle and send them out on the next day's train.

 

[the_traveler]

I've heard the same thing, except that if it is running real late, they may use the bus bridge on a case by case basis.

 

[DET63]

Obviously, the bus bridge from KFS can't be used once the train has left that station. I suppose something could be arranged if the train is delayed unexpectedly between KFS and CMO, but I would think that the greatest danger of unexpected delays would be in going over the Cascades between CMO and EUG. A bus/no-bus substitution decision would presumably have to be made by EUG. Fortunately, long delays between EUG and PDX can probably be anticipated a bit more reliably than elsewhere along the line. Does anyone have information as to when decisions about "bustitutions" are made for travelers going from #14 to #28?

 

[dart330]

I would like some more info on this as well. We are looking at taking a trip making this connection with some Amtrak first timers, getting a bedroom suite on the EB heading to Chicago. If we missed the connection it would probably be impossible to get 2 bedrooms the next day on that train. Would ruin the entire trip.

 

[p&sr]

We are looking at taking a trip making this connection with some Amtrak first timers, getting a bedroom suite on the EB heading to Chicago. If we missed the connection it would probably be impossible to get 2 bedrooms the next day on that train. Would ruin the entire trip.

If that would ruin your entire trip, you might want to consider spending an overnight in Portland or Seattle, so you can travel with full confidence. That's certainly the way I'd do it.

 

[Rob_C]

Portland is such a great town, I don't know why anyone *would not* want to spend a night there before continuing on the train. I know being on the train consistently for days on end appeals to some, but that's a minority of travelers to be sure. I get that Amtrak needs to make as many connections as possible for people traveling one train just a few stops to get on a much longer ride the same day, or vice versa. But if you're traveling from SAC to MSP via the Builder, that's so many nights on the train already, one night off in Portland seems like a no brainer. When we did it, we stayed at a Best Western that was very affordable and hopped the Metro around town. Made for more good memories from a great trip! YMMV

 

[diesteldorf]

Just wanted to bump this to see how things are being handled today. My dad is planning to take the Starlight from LA to Portland to catch the eastbound Builder to Chicago in mid-March.

I can see Amtrak is still guaranteeing this connection on their website. Anyone, know how the connection is doing.

Obviously, it would be ideal to take the train the entire trip with no bustitutions, but traisn can and do run late.

When we had the Gathering in LA in 2008, I chose to take the Chief back to Chicago and overnight, catching the EB the following day, since Amtrak was not guaranteeing the Starlight to Builder connection.

 

[Trogdor]

We missed on Saturday because a UP train in front of us had a little problem that cost us 2.5 hours. The problem occurred close enough to EUG that they couldn't arrange buses, so they brought connecting passengers to Portland, put them up for the night and put them on Sunday's Builder.

If the Starlight is running late with enough advance notice, they will bus from either KFS or EUG (depending on the situation) to a suitable connecting point.

 

[the_traveler]

A couple of years ago, when they were guaranteeing the PDX connection, the CS lost time crossing the Cascades. They bussed the connection passengers between Albany, OR and PDX and held the EB. (It is faster driving up I-5 than taking the CS with stops.) We arrived in PDX and boarded the EB and we were off! The CS arrived into PDX about 30 minutes later headed to SEA!

 

[Traveler]

Will you still get your room accommodations if you missed your connecting train due to the first train delay?

If not, will you get a refund?

 

[the_traveler]

Will you still get your room accommodations if you missed your connecting train due to the first train delay?

If not, will you get a refund?

Yes, IF one is available on the next train. If not, you will be downgraded to coach, however you still will get included meals and your accommodation charge would be refunded!